Volunteer Runners Needed for Cancer Relay Challenge This Weekend

The track program seeks volunteer runners to help with the first Relay Challenge on Saturday and Sunday, April 28 and 29.

Student-athletes will run continuously for 24 hours to raise money for the Susan G. Komen Foundation, the world’s largest independent benefactor of breast cancer research.

While Shepard students will start the relay at 4 p.m. on Saturday, track coaches seek volunteer runners from the community to help. Any time between 4 p.m. on Saturday and 4 p.m. on Sunday, anyone may show up to help the Shepard students in their goal.

Shepard is located at 13049 S. Ridgeland Avenue in Palos Heights. The track’s located in the football stadium in the back of school.

“Each volunteer will run with the baton, which will move the entire 24 hours. Anyone that wants in on the true 24 hour relay can come on up and we’ll fit them in the schedule,” said Dan Ludwig, the head coach of the varsity boys track team at Shepard.

Assistant coach Joe Lerner developed the idea. Aside from supporting a great cause, Ludwig emphasized that the motivation for the ambitious event boiled down to character for their student-athletes.

“We want to help turn these high schools boys into good, decent young men that live with respect, integrity, responsibility, and awareness. This event helps us accomplish this. And our athletes were all for it. They’re a great group,” Ludwig said.

Watch the story of a Shepard staff member who is a survivor of breast cancer that was recently featured on Astro-TV.

Submitted by District 218